Assistive walking device with multiple support spheres
An Assistive Walking Device that provides added support to persons requiring a mobility aid. Three or more stiff or flexible spherical or partial spherical-shaped structures are attached to a support or frame structure that includes a handle or grip. The three or more spherical structures attached to the support structure or frame, absorb shock during the walking motion and grip the ground, thus improving walking stability. The three or more spherical or partial spherical-shaped structures can vary in size, composition, construction design, pattern arrangement and pliability characteristics, and the frame or support structure to which the spherical structures are attached is variable in design according to the specific application requirements of the person requiring the mobility aid.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/763,112 filed Jan. 28, 2006.
THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe Assistive Walking Device With Multiple Support Spheres provides added support to elderly and disabled persons when walking. Three or more hard or flexible rubber, plastic or composite spherical or partial spherical structures attached to a support structure that includes a handle or grip enables a person requiring a mobility aid to gain additional stability over present tripod and quad cane designs. The present invention consists of at least three spherical or partial spherical shaped structures that contact the ground while the user of the invention is walking and provides a stable assistive walking platform. The three or more spherical structures attached to the frame structure absorb shock and grip the ground surface during walking. At least three spherical shaped structures provide walking stability when the user applies pressure to the three or more spherical shaped structures in contact with the ground during walking motion. A downward pressure applied to the three or more spherical structures by the user results in a temporary gripping of the ground surface. The spherical surfaces of the three or more spherical shaped structures enable a natural rolling motion of the walking device when in use. The spherical shaped structures are removable from the frame or support structure, and different types of spherical and frame structures can be selected to meet the particular situation of the user. The removable spherical shaped structures can vary in size, number and pliability characteristics and the frame or support structure to which the spherical structures are attached is variable according to specific application requirements.
Prior ArtExisting assistive walking devices that utilize three or more legs consist of the quad cane design comprised of four tubular legs with rubber tips attached to the end of each leg and the tripod cane comprised of three tubular legs. The tubular legs of a quad cane are attached to a metal or plastic plate and a tubular extension with handle is attached to the metal plate. The tripod cane design utilizes three metal tubular legs with rubber feet attached to the ends of the tubular legs that are in turn attached to an extension tube and handle. The rubber feet of the quad cane and tripod cane designs contact the ground when the user of these devices walks. The basic design and function of both the tripod and quad canes has changed little over the years.
The Assistive Walking Device with Multiple Support Spheres takes a new approach to improving walking stability. The Assistive Walking Device with Multiple Support Spheres uses three or more spherical or partial spherical shaped structures that contact and grip the ground to improve stability during walking. When the three or more spherical shaped structures of the present invention are in simultaneous contact with the ground surface along with a downward pressure exerted on the spheres during walking, a gripping of the ground surface and support of the user takes place beyond what is possible with single tipped walking canes and existing tripod and quad cane devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is the object of the present invention to provide a device that can increase the stability of elderly and disabled persons and prevent falls that can result in serious injury when walking on a variety of surfaces. In addition, it is the object of the present invention to accomplish the task of increasing walking stability by using three or more rubber, plastic or composite spherical shaped structures attached to a metal or plastic support frame or other assembly. The frame or assembly can be comprised of a tubular construction that is straight, curved or bent with a handle or grip included as part of the frame or assembly.
The present invention provides a lightweight device that can increase walking stability when used on a variety of surfaces such as smooth pavement or rough gravel. Variations of the Assistive Walking Device With Multiple Support Spheres can also be used to gain extra stability for sporting-related activities such as hiking and rollerblading. The number (three or more), size and flexibility of the spherical shaped structures are variable according to the specific requirements of the user. At least three spherical shaped structures are used with a support structure or frame device to provide support to the user when the spherical shaped structures contact the ground during walking. Furthermore, the pattern or arrangement of the spherical shaped structures is variable according to the requirements of the user.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings; wherein:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals in the text indicate like elements throughout the drawings.
The Assistive Walking Device With Multiple Support Spheres 1 illustrated in
As illustrated in
Spherical shaped structures 5 are fabricated of rubber, plastic, metal or composite material and can be either of a solid 14 design (see
Spherical surface structure 5 besides being fabricated in the shape of a whole sphere can also be fabricated as a partial sphere as illustrated in
The size, hardness or flexibility of spherical shaped structures 5 is variable so that different application requirements can be addressed. For example, large flexible spheres 5 may be used for one application while another application may employ smaller and less flexible spheres 5. Different sized spherical shaped structures 5 can also be mixed together for a particular mobility support application. Spherical shaped structures 5, comprised of different material constructions and flexibility characteristics, can also be mixed together in a single device 1. For some sports related applications, the spherical shaped structures 5 may be hard with no or minimal flexibility characteristics. As illustrated in
If the spherical shaped structures 5 are flexible in construction, a downward pressure 43 applied to the spherical structures 5 will cause outer contact surface 18 of the spherical shaped structures 5 in contact with the ground 40 to flatten 41 and grip the ground surface 40, thus increasing walking stability (see
Spherical shaped structure 5, if of a solid construction, can be attached or connected to support structure 8 by screws or some other mechanical means. For example, a female or male screw tread can be molded into the spherical shaped structure 5 enabling easy removal and attachment to support structure 8. If the spherical shaped structure 5 includes an interior core 6, consisting of liquid 28, gas 27, gel 29, plastic foam 32 or some other flexible material, the sphere 5 can be molded with a sold piece or protrusion that enables attachment or connection to support structure 8 through the use of screws, pins, clamps or some other mechanical means. Adhesive means can also be used as a means of attaching or fastening the spherical shaped structures 5 to support structure 8. For example, flexible rubber or plastic spherical shaped structures 5 can be attached to support structure 8 through the application of adhesives or another means if a mobility application is determined to require spherical shaped structures 5 with a high degree of flexibility. Heat or chemical welding techniques can also be used where appropriate to attach spherical shaped structures 5 to support structure 8. Spherical shaped structures 5 can also be attached or connected to support structure 8 by enabling a protrusion on frame 8 to fit into a socket fabricated as part of spherical shaped structure 5. The protrusion on support structure 8 is pushed into the socket of spherical shaped structure 5 to facilitate attachment to support structure 8. Likewise, a protrusion molded as part of the spherical surface structure 5 can fit into a socket on frame 8. Spherical shaped structures 5 can also be fabricated with a twist lock mechanism or screw pattern that enables easy attachment to and removal from support structure 8. Other means of attaching spherical shaped structures 5 to support structure 8 are available beyond the methods presently described. Spherical shaped structures 5, when attached to support structure 8, can either be stiff with no movement at the point of attachment to support structure 8 or the point of attachment of spherical shaped structure 5 to support structure 8 can enable movement of the spherical surface structures 5 in one or more directions at the point of attachment to support structure 8. That is, the spherical shaped structures 5 can be enabled to rotate in one or more directions on support structure 8 or other embodiments can be stiff with no rotation capability.
Support structure 8, which the spherical surface structures 5 are attached to, can be fabricated from a wide-variety of materials including, plastic, metal, rubber, wood or a composite such as graphite-reinforced epoxy and can include plates, tubes or extension legs in the construction. Other composite or material combinations can also be used beyond graphite-reinforced epoxy to construct support structure 8. As illustrated in
An embodiment of the support structure 8, as illustrated in
The Assistive Walking Device With Multiple Support Spheres 1 can also include a spring 80 that moves in a linear motion enabling the spherical shaped structures 5 attached to support structure 8 to adjust to a variety of surfaces and absorb shock. As illustrated in
The distance between spherical surface structures 5, the number of spherical shaped structures 5 and the type of support structure 8 are variable and can be changed to meet different requirements. One or more spherical surface structures 5 can be attached to each extension piece 11 of a support structure 8. Also, besides applying a single group of three or more spherical surface structures 5 attached to a support structure 8 to aid in walking, more than one grouping of three or more spherical surface structure 5 can be attached to two or more locations of a support structure 8. For example as illustrated in
The Assistive Walking Device With Multiple Support Spheres 1 can consist of a large spherical surface 5 that includes smaller spherical shaped structures 5 positioned near the larger spherical shaped structures 5 as illustrated in
The Assistive Walking Device With Multiple Support Spheres 1 operates with the user holding handle or grip 15. As the user walks, spherical shaped structures 5 alternately are raised and lowered on an off the ground 40. The preferred means of use with the present invention is for the user to lift the spherical shaped structures 5 off the ground 40 using associated support structure 8 and then place the spherical shaped structures 5 on the ground 40 in repeatable fashion with each step. As the user walks, downward pressure 43 exerted on the support structure 8 of the Walking Device 1 results in the surface of the spherical shaped structures 5 contacting and gripping the ground 40 as pressure 43 by the user presses the spherical surface structures 5 against the ground 40 while walking. The spherical shape of the spherical surface structures 5 enables the user of the Walking Device 1 to move the spheres 5 on the ground 40 in a natural motion so that the surface area 18 of the spheres 5 stay in contact with the ground 40 during part or most of the walking motion, thus improving walking support and stability.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Claims
1. A walking device;
- comprised of:
- three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, spheroidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to a support structure operable for being hand held or gripped by a person;
- Whereby, the said three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure, contact the ground surface when said person holding said support structure of said walking device is walking, and whereby, the surface of at least one of the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure includes depressions, notches, cuts, grooves, protrusions, indentations, a tread or a raised or sunken pattern.
2. A walking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the said three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure are flexible.
3. A walking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the size, material composition, number, pliability, or pattern arrangement of the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure can be selected before, during, or after manufacture to address different walking applications.
4. A walking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the measurable distance between each of the said three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure is adjustable.
5. A walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby, a said spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can be of the same material composition throughout the said spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure and can be either flexible or stiff; whereby, a said spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can consist of a layered construction; whereby, a said spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a space or section that contains a gas, gel, liquid, plastic foam or some other flexible material; whereby, a said spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a flexible or stiff outer section or layer and a flexible or stiff inner section or layer; or whereby, a said spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a hollow space.
6. A walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby said support structure that the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures are attached or connected to is variable in regards to material composition, may be stiff or flexible, and may be straight like a pole or include angles, bends, curves, plates, tubes or extension legs in the construction.
7. The walking device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one spring mechanism is included in or located above one or more of the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure, enabling the said spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure that has the spring mechanism positioned in or above it to move in a linear motion, thus enabling said walking device to adjust to a variety of ground surfaces and to absorb shock.
8. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures are removable from said support structure.
9. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby one or more pivots or joints are located in or between said support structure enabling said support structure to bend at said one or more pivots or joints when a downward pressure is applied to said support structure and associated one or more pivots or joints and that includes at least one spring mechanism associated with each of the said one or more pivots and joints located in or between said support structure operable for straightening said support structure when downward pressure is relieved from said support structure and associated one or more pivots or joints.
10. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached to said support structure are removable from said support structure.
11. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby the pliability characteristics of each of the said three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure is variable.
12. The walking device as recited in claim 1, whereby the interior of the three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure can contain a gas, liquid, gel, foam or some other material composition.
13. The walking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure can be comprised of two or more separate groups of three or more spherical, spheroidal, ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached to said support structure.
14. A walking device;
- comprised of:
- three or more flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal shaped structures attached or connected to a support structure operable for being hand held or gripped by a person;
- whereby, the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure, contact the ground surface when said person holding said walking device support structure is walking, and whereby, the surfaces of the said three or more spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure include protrusions, indentations, notches, cuts, grooves, depressions, a tread, or a sunken or raised pattern.
15. A walking device as recited in claim 14, whereby the measurable distance between each of the said three or more spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure is adjustable.
16. A walking device as recited in claim 14, whereby the size, material composition, number, pliability, material composition and pattern arrangement of the said three or more flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures attached or connected to said support structure can be selected to meet the requirements of the walking application.
17. A walking device as recited in claim 14, whereby, a said flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can be of the same material composition throughout the said flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure; whereby, a said flexible spherical, ellipsoidal or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can consist of a layered construction; whereby, a said flexible spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a space or section that contains a gas, gel, liquid, plastic foam or some other flexible material; or whereby, a said flexible spherical, ellipsoidal, or spheroidal or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structure attached or connected to said support structure can include a hollow space.
18. A walking device as recited in claim 14, whereby said support structure that the said three or more flexible spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal, or partial spherical, spheroidal, or ellipsoidal shaped structures are attached or connected to is variable in regards to material composition, may be adjustable, may be stiff or flexible, may be straight like a pole, or may include angles, bends, curves, plates, tubes or extension legs in the construction.
994194 | June 1911 | Pratt |
1022858 | April 1912 | Markus |
1406453 | February 1922 | Fanning |
1438883 | December 1922 | Youngren |
4027687 | June 7, 1977 | McGowan |
4062372 | December 13, 1977 | Slusher |
4085763 | April 25, 1978 | Thomas |
4630626 | December 23, 1986 | Urban |
D290186 | June 9, 1987 | Meunchen |
4958651 | September 25, 1990 | Najm |
5238013 | August 24, 1993 | Battiston et al. |
5301703 | April 12, 1994 | Kahn |
5301704 | April 12, 1994 | Brown |
5307828 | May 3, 1994 | Gardner et al. |
5390687 | February 21, 1995 | Tsai |
5409029 | April 25, 1995 | Davis |
5485862 | January 23, 1996 | Kahn |
5713382 | February 3, 1998 | Midcap |
5785070 | July 28, 1998 | Block et al. |
5806548 | September 15, 1998 | Goldstein et al. |
5826606 | October 27, 1998 | Davenport |
5945178 | August 31, 1999 | Volkmann |
6138699 | October 31, 2000 | Su |
6378540 | April 30, 2002 | Iwasa |
6877520 | April 12, 2005 | Morris |
7047990 | May 23, 2006 | Zambrano et al. |
D531399 | November 7, 2006 | Olerud |
7234199 | June 26, 2007 | Bushey |
7234200 | June 26, 2007 | Chase |
7270138 | September 18, 2007 | Liao |
7404232 | July 29, 2008 | Chase |
20050205121 | September 22, 2005 | Lindgren |
20060207045 | September 21, 2006 | Pyka et al. |
20070102080 | May 10, 2007 | Spangler |
2000325119 | November 2000 | JP |
2002065328 | March 2002 | JP |
2004290433 | October 2004 | JP |
2005006699 | January 2005 | JP |
2005176983 | July 2005 | JP |
Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 17, 2007
Date of Patent: Jan 19, 2010
Patent Publication Number: 20070175503
Inventor: Ellis David Gordon (Washington, DC)
Primary Examiner: Winnie Yip
Application Number: 11/653,881
International Classification: A45B 9/04 (20060101);